Roach breeding.

[Truffs1178]

I got 100 egg flats/trays today. Each one holds 30 eggs so they are pretty big. This should give the roaches some extra room. I also found another egg case from the red runners and this one is more elongated and its the normal shape so this one will hopefully hatch.

[demon amphibians]

I blended up carrots and squash and added enough oats to make a thick paste as described above and I do not think my dubia roaches are taking to it as readily as their dry food mix. I'll check later today to see if anymore of it has been eaten. I too am going to try to switch my roaches to a vegetarian diet.

I will admit they do prefer cat, dog and fish food over almost anything. so it may be frustrating to get something else that they will readily stick to. But remember they are built to survive so they will adapt. my roaches wouldnt touch water melon for the longest time. But when i went on a trip i put a huge slice of it mainly for moisture control and that was all they had. they ate it all not to mention now they will clean up an entire water melon in a week. this will also apply to a wet blend. the benefits for me using this is they get a large variety of nutrients through the blend and it helps with moisture after all i use heat lamps for heat so it can dry out quickly without close attention. the wet blend eliminates all those problems i came upon. keep in mind it is always good to have a dry meal for them to. It really all depends on their moisture needs. my roaches to this day will eat a lettuce leaf or an orange before they even touch the wet blend i provide. none the less they will eat about 5-8lbs a week of the wet blend.

[CJ PELCHER]

Demon,

If all your roaches are this well fed with such good nutrients. How about we eat some for dinna =) Oh and btw...call me we have to make breeding boxes and what about poison?

[demon amphibians]

oh i would eat one if i had to. ha ha nom nom.

[Truffs1178]

Just a quick update.

The lobsters, dubias and red runners have all had babies so are very fast breeders. The hissers haven't done anything yet though. I just bought 20 Madagascar hissers for only £1.00, best deal ever.

[Cap10Squirty]

Not bad, I started my Madagascar colony of 300 for $40 USD. I don't plan on feeding from it for close to a year :P I do like the madagascar hissers better than the dubias as they are easier to handle. Ideally, in a year or so I will have a colony large enough to feed "buckets" of roaches from each day to my ever growing beast(s).

My B. dubia colonies are doing well. Breeder bin 500+ females, and grow-out/feeder bin of no telling how many thousands.

Have any of you noticed that the nymphs gut load better than the adult male roaches? I fed my Monitor lizard 50 large dubia nymphs after gut loading for 24 hours and they weighed much more than the adult males resulting in a happier and fatter lizard.

[Truffs1178]

I have noticed that too. Males are pathetic feeders compared to females. Another thing I have noticed is that although care sheets say male dubias can't fly some that I have held have jumped managed to fly. Not just flutter but fly across the room while going up at the same time. Don't know if I have made super roaches or if they all can do it.

[sajane]

what is your opinion on feeding dubias a complete cereal diet. vitamin fortified cereal and rolled oats mixed with baby cereal also. waters crystals for moisture

[CJ PELCHER]

sojane,

A mixed diet is best. They will not get all the nutrients just based of cereal and oats. Throw veggie and fruit scraps in as well and take them out within a day or two to prevent MOLD which will kill your colony. I have no experience with baby cereal. Sorry. But the preservatives in baby cereal may eventually have a negative effect. (not sure though)
https://www.airexotics.com/dubia-roach-care-sheet.html

[CJ PELCHER]

I have noticed that too. Males are pathetic feeders compared to females. Another thing I have noticed is that although care sheets say male dubias can't fly some that I have held have jumped managed to fly. Not just flutter but fly across the room while going up at the same time. Don't know if I have made super roaches or if they all can do it.

Just a note: if you feed the males off clip the wings off. There no nutritional value in those darn wings and just a hassle for them to digest.

[demon amphibians]

what is your opinion on feeding dubias a complete cereal diet. vitamin fortified cereal and rolled oats mixed with baby cereal also. waters crystals for moisture

a cereal diet would make a good dry diet. but as corey said a diverse diet is best. cheerios is a good option as well as cornflakes. also feed oranges, apples and lettuce. they seem to love carrots as well.

[demon amphibians]

I have noticed that too. Males are pathetic feeders compared to females. Another thing I have noticed is that although care sheets say male dubias can't fly some that I have held have jumped managed to fly. Not just flutter but fly across the room while going up at the same time. Don't know if I have made super roaches or if they all can do it.

I have been raising dubia for about 2 years now and i have yet to see one do that. I mean i have thrown them at friends and they can flutter a good distance but i have never seen one take off and gain height on its own. sounds like you have some talented roaches.

[CJ PELCHER]

I have been raising dubia for about 2 years now and i have yet to see one do that. I mean i have thrown them at friends and they can flutter a good distance but i have never seen one take off and gain height on its own. sounds like you have some talented roaches.

Maybe because you threw it? LOL just saying

[demon amphibians]

well true. ha ha but none the less i have never seen one do that kind of flying on its own.

[JeffreH]

The males probably fly in nature, but probably not very well and I doubt they do it often or without some kind of stimulus. I think their wings and body-plan are better developed for fluttering short distances to evade predators from tips of foliage and/or safely land from falls.

I think there are some other examples of captive insects that do not fly as frequently/at all in captivity despite having some flight ability in nature.